Set in 1953, the first season will explore racism and ideas of “us vs Them” that still prevail in modern society. It will follow Alfred and Lucky Emory, who move their family from North Carolina to an all-white neighbourhood in Los Angeles, a place where malevolent forces real and supernatural begin to stir.

Ayorinde, who played Candace in Luke Cage also appeared in True Detective, will play Alfred. Thomas, who recently wrapped Netflix series Top Boy, will play Lucky.

Amazon has already ordered two seasons from Waithe. The casting news arrives just as Amazon has also signed a new first-look deal with Laithe to develop TV shows for Prime Video.

Amazon orders two seasons of horror series Them

1st August 2019

Amazon has ordered two seasons of new horror series Them.

Described as an event series, the co-production with Sony Pictures Television will begin with THEM: Covenant.

The series is created by executive producer Lena Waithe (The Chi, Dear White People), writer and executive producer Little Marvin, and executive producers Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, and Michael Connelly with Vertigo Prime.

Covenant will be set in 1953 and explore racism and ideas of “us vs Them” that still prevail in modern society. It will follow Alfred and Lucky Emory, who move their family from North Carolina to an all-white neighbourhood in Los Angeles, a place where malevolent forces real and supernatural begin to stir.

“Little Marvin’s script stayed with me for weeks after I read it,” Waithe told Bloody Disgusting at Amazon’s TCA press tour, where the series was announced. “He’s written something that’s provocative and terrifying. The first season will speak to how frightening it was to be black in 1953. It will also remind us that being black in 2018 is just as horrifying. This anthology series will examine the cultural divides among all of us and explore us vs Them in a way we’ve never seen before.”

“I’ve always felt that dark, surreal times deserve dark, surreal mirrors to show us ourselves,” added Marvin. “And at this point in time one of the best ways to examine fractures in our world through the visceral and raw lens of horror. I’m beyond thrilled that our series has found its home with the fine folks at Amazon.”

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